Autostereoscopic optical apparatus

ABSTRACT

An autostereoscopic optical apparatus ( 10 ) for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprises a left image to be viewed by an observer ( 12 ) at a left viewing pupil ( 14   l ) and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil ( 14   r ). The apparatus comprises a left pupil imaging system for forming the left image. A right pupil imaging system forms the right image.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/662,208, filed Sep. 12, 2003, entitled AUTOSTEREOSCOPIC OPTICAL APPARATUS, by Cobb et al.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to display apparatus and more particularly relates to an autostereoscopic display apparatus providing a wide field of view, large viewing pupils, and high brightness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The potential value of autostereoscopic display systems is well appreciated for a broad range of data visualization uses and for a wide range of applications that include entertainment, engineering, medical, government, security, and simulation fields. Autostereoscopic display systems include “immersion” systems, intended to provide a realistic viewing experience for an observer by visually surrounding the observer with a three-dimensional (3-D) image having a very wide field of view. As differentiated from the larger group of stereoscopic displays that include it, the autostereoscopic display is characterized by the absence of any requirement for a wearable item of any type, such as goggles, headgear, or special polarized or filter glasses, for example. That is, an autostereoscopic display attempts to provide “natural” viewing conditions for an observer.

An article entitled “3-D displays: A review of current technologies” by Siegmund Pastoor and Mathias Wopking in Displays 17 (1997) surveys various approaches that have been applied for obtaining autostereoscopic display images for one or more viewers. Among the many techniques described in the Pastoor et al. article are electro-holography, volumetric display, direction-multiplexed, diffraction-based, refraction-based, and reflection-based methods for autostereoscopic presentation. While each of these approaches may have merit in one or more specific applications, these approaches have a number of characteristic shortcomings that constrain usability and overall performance. As a group, these conventional approaches have been adapted for autostereoscopic displays, but allow only a narrow field of view and provide limited brightness and poor contrast. Imaging systems employing time-based or spatial multiplexing require complex image processing algorithms in order to provide left- and right-eye images in the proper sequence or with the necessary spatial separation. Time-based multiplexing introduces the inherent problem of image flicker. Spatial multiplexing generally produces an image having reduced resolution. Combining these multiplexing techniques, as is disclosed in European Patent Application EP 0 764 869 A2 to Ezra et al., may provide an increased number of views, but does not compensate for these inherent drawbacks. A number of multiplexing technologies also require tracking of view eye position and compensation for changes in head position. As a further disadvantage, each of the imaging technologies described in the Pastoor et al. article present the viewer with a real image, rather than with a virtual image.

In an article entitled “An Autostereoscopic Display Providing Comfortable Viewing Conditions and a High Degree of Telepresence” by Klaus Hopf in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Vol. 10, No. 3, April, 2000, a teleconferencing system employing a spherical mirror is disclosed, recommended particularly for its value in reducing chromatic aberration. However, the optical system disclosed in this article is subject to field curvature constraints, limiting its field of view. Notably, the system described in the Hopf article provides a virtual image; however, due to substantial field curvature, the total field of view of such a system is limited to less than about 15 degrees. While such a narrow field of view may be acceptable for videoconferencing applications, this level of performance would not be useful for a desktop display system.

Virtual imaging provides an advantageous alternative to real image projection, as is used in the apparatus described in the Pastoor article and in EP 0 764 869 A2. In contrast to conventional projection methods for forming a real image, a virtual image is not formed on a display surface. That is, if a display surface were positioned at the perceived location of a virtual image, no image would be formed on that surface. Virtual image display has a number of inherent advantages, as is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,372 (Hildebrand et al.) As one significant advantage for stereoscopic viewing, the size of a virtual image is not limited by the size or location of a display surface. Additionally, the source object for a virtual image may be small; a magnifying glass, as a simple example, provides a virtual image of its object. Thus, it can be seen that, in comparison with prior art systems that project a real image, a more realistic viewing experience can be provided by forming a virtual image that is disposed to appear some distance away. Providing a virtual image also obviates any need to compensate for screen artifacts, as may be necessary when projecting a real image.

It is generally recognized that, in order to minimize vergence/accommodation effects, a 3-D viewing system should display its pair of stereoscopic images, whether real or virtual, at a relatively large distance from the observer. For real images, this means that a large display screen must be employed, preferably placed a good distance from the observer. For virtual images, however, a relatively small curved mirror can be used as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,300 (Walker et al.). The curved mirror acts as a collimator, forming a virtual image at a relatively large distance from the observer.

From an optical perspective, it can be seen that there would be advantages to autostereoscopic design using pupil imaging. A system designed for pupil imaging must meet a fairly demanding set of requirements, including the following:

-   -   (a) form separate images at left and right pupils         correspondingly;     -   (b) provide the most natural viewing conditions, eliminating any         need for goggles or special headgear;     -   (c) present the largest possible pupils to the observer, while         limiting crosstalk between left and right views;     -   (d) allow reasonable freedom of movement;     -   (e) provide an ultra-wide field of view; and     -   (f) provide sufficient resolution for realistic imaging, with         high brightness and contrast.

It is recognized in the optical arts that each of these requirements, by itself, can be difficult to achieve. An ideal autostereoscopic imaging system must meet the challenge of each of these requirements to provide a more fully satisfactory and realistic viewing experience. Moreover, additional physical constraints presented by the need for a system to have small footprint, and dimensional constraints for interocular separation must be considered, so that separate images directed to each eye can be advantageously spaced and correctly separated for viewing. It is instructive to note that interocular distance constraints limit the ability to achieve larger pupil diameter at a given ultrawide field by simply scaling the projection lens.

Clearly, the value and realistic quality of the viewing experience provided by an autostereoscopic display system using pupil imaging is enhanced by presenting the stereo 3-D image with a wide field of view and large exit pupil. For fully satisfactory 3-D viewing, such a system should provide separate, high-resolution images to right and left eyes. To create a realistic illusion of depth and width of field, the observer should be presented with a virtual image that requires the viewer to focus at some distance.

It is well known that conflict between depth cues associated with vergence and accommodation can adversely impact the viewing experience. Vergence refers to the degree at which the observer's eyes must be crossed in order to fuse the separate images of an object within the field of view. Vergence decreases, then vanishes as viewed objects become more distant. Accommodation refers to the requirement that the eye lens of the observer change shape to maintain retinal focus for the object of interest. It is known that there can be a temporary degradation of a viewer's depth perception when the viewer is exposed for a period of time to mismatched depth cues for vergence and accommodation. It is also known that this negative effect on depth perception can be mitigated when the accommodation cues correspond to distant image position.

There are also other basic optical limitations for immersion systems that must be addressed with any type of optical projection that provides a wide field of view. An important limitation is imposed by the Lagrange invariant. A product of the size of the emissive device and the numerical aperture, the Lagrange invariant determines output brightness and is an important consideration for matching the output of one optical system with the input of another. Any imaging system conforms to the Lagrange invariant, whereby the product of pupil size and semi-field angle is equal to the product of the image size and the numerical aperture. An invariant that applies throughout the optical system, the Lagrange invariant can be a limitation when using, as an image generator, a relatively small spatial light modulator or similar pixel array which operate over a relatively small numerical aperture, since the Lagrange value associated with the device is small. In practical terms, the larger the size of the image source, the easier it is to form an image having a wide field of view and large pupil.

In response to the need for more realistic autostereoscopic display solutions offering a wide field of view, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,181 (Kessler et al.), incorporated herein by reference and referred to as the '181 patent, discloses an autostereoscopic imaging system using pupil imaging to display collimated left and right virtual images to a viewer. In the '181 disclosure, a curved mirror is employed in combination with an imaging source, a curved diffusive surface, a ball lens assembly, and a beamsplitter, for providing the virtual image for left and right viewing pupils. Overall, the monocentric optical apparatus of the '181 disclosure provides autostereoscopic imaging with large viewing pupils, a very wide field of view, and minimal aberration.

While the autostereoscopic system of the '181 disclosure provides a high-performance immersive display, there is still room for improved embodiments. For example, while the '181 system provides a large viewing pupil, there would be advantages in even further increases in pupil size. At the same time, however, some amount of correction may be needed, since eye movement within a larger viewing pupil can cause some amount of “swim” effect, in which pixels appear to shift position as the eye moves within the viewing pupil. In addition, as is well known in the imaging arts, some amount of spherical aberration is generally inherent in any optical system that employs a curved mirror for image collimation.

Generating its source image on a small spatial light modulator device, the '181 system overcomes inherent Lagrange invariant conditions by forming an intermediate curved image for projection on a curved diffusive surface. Use of the diffuser with the '181 apparatus is necessary because the image-forming device, typically a reflective LCD or other spatial light modulator, is a relatively small emissive device, measuring typically no more than about 1 inch square. At the same time, however, the use of a diffusive surface effectively reduces overall brightness, introduces some level of graininess to the image, and limits the achievable contrast.

There are other minor drawbacks to autostereoscopic displays that use the design approach of the '181 disclosure. For example, slight “keystoning” aberrations are detectable in a system using the '181 design approach, due to the use of a single curved mirror; moreover, this effect can be compounded by right and left images exhibiting keystoning in opposite orientations with respect to the final image. While spherical lenses such as the ball lenses of the '181 disclosure have overall advantages for maximizing field of view and for minimizing some types of imaging aberration, there are some inherent disadvantages to the use of highly spherical optics, requiring compensation for chromatic effects for example. Curved images can be produced in a number of ways using more conventional optics, which, while not providing some of the advantages of ball lenses, might provide less expensive options for forming intermediate images in an autostereoscopic system.

Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for an improved autostereoscopic imaging apparatus that provides improved brightness, enhanced viewing pupil dimensions, reduced image aberrations, and higher resolution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an autostereoscopic display device having improved viewing pupil size, brightness, and resolution, with reduced optical aberrations. With this object in mind, the present invention provides an autostereoscopic optical apparatus for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising:

It is a feature of the present invention that it provides a completely specular autostereoscopic imaging display apparatus, without the need for curved diffusive surfaces. This allows image brightness to be optimized and allows improved contrast over earlier design solutions.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it uses a larger imaging display than previous solutions, relaxing Lagrange invariant constraints on available luminance.

It is a further advantage of the present invention that it provides an improved viewing pupil size when compared with earlier solutions.

It is a further advantage of the present invention that it provides a compact autostereoscopic display system providing a virtual image.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a prior art autostereoscopic display system using pupil imaging to provide a virtual image;

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of image generation system components for the prior art system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing how an intermediate image is formed in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a is a schematic diagram showing optical behavior of a ball lens;

FIG. 4 b is a schematic diagram showing optical behavior of an hemispheric lens with a reflective surface;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an apparatus for forming a curved intermediate image according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention for forming a curved image, using a field lens;

FIG. 7 a is a schematic diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention for forming a curved intermediate image using a focusing optical element, using a conventional thin beamsplitter;

FIG. 7 b is a schematic diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention for forming a curved intermediate image using a focusing optical element and employing a wedge beamsplitter;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the overall function of the focusing optical element of FIGS. 7 a and 7 b in the imaging path;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of components for pupil imaging in an autostereoscopic display system of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows corrected aberration curves for the ball lens assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows uncorrected aberration curves for the curved image generating optical system of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows corrected aberration curves for the curved image generating optical system of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows a simplified image path using an aspheric corrector element;

FIG. 14 shows corrected aberration curves using an aspheric corrector element to obtain a larger viewing pupil;

FIG. 15 shows the sag profile for an aspheric surface providing the improvement depicted in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of components for pupil imaging in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, using separate mirrors for left and right pupils; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing another alternate embodiment of the present invention using alternate imaging components to provide intermediate images and using separate mirrors for left and right pupils.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present description is directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art.

For the purposes of the present application, a curved image is an image for which best focus lies in a shape that is substantially spherical. The optical path is simplest when curved images are themselves spherically curved. By forming and using curved intermediate images, for example, rather than flat, planar images, the optics of the present invention take advantage of various symmetrical arrangements and relationships that are favorable for pupil imaging using virtual images, as is described in this section. Curved intermediate images can be formed using fully spherical lenses or using highly spherical lens segments as well as using more conventional image projection optics.

Similarly, for reasons that become apparent upon reading this detailed description, a curved mirror, as described in this application, is preferably spherical, having a single center of curvature.

In the prior art autostereoscopic projection apparatus 10 described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,181 and as shown in FIG. 1, a curved mirror 24 is employed, in combination with a beamsplitter 16 to provide an autostereoscopic virtual image to a viewer 12 at left and right viewing pupils 14 l and 14 r. For both left and right viewing pupils 14 l and 14 r, a corresponding image generation system 70 l and 70 r provides an initial intermediate curved image that is then projected through a corresponding left or right ball lens assembly 30 l, 30 r in order to form an intermediate curved image 80 at a focal surface of curved mirror 24. As FIG. 1 shows, the left and right optical paths cross between beamsplitter 16 and curved mirror 24, due to the nature of imaging using curved mirror 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown, extracted from the more detailed prior art description of the '181 disclosure noted in the background section above, a portion of an image generation system 70 for providing intermediate curved image 80 for projection in a stereoscopic projection system 82 for one viewing pupil 14. Here, an image generator 74 provides a source image from a flat surface, such as from a reflective LCD. A relay lens 54 directs light from image generator 74 onto a diffusing element 32, so that a curved intermediate image 76 is formed on a diffusive surface 40. Ball lens assembly 30, cooperating with beamsplitter 16, projects curved intermediate image 76 toward a front focal surface 22 of curved mirror 24 to form intermediate curved image 80. Curved mirror 24 then provides a virtual image of intermediate curved image 80 for a viewing pupil 14.

Forming a Curved Intermediate Image

To eliminate the need for diffusing element 32 as was required using the approach of the '181 disclosure, the present invention provides an alternate method for forming a curved intermediate image using a specular optical system. Referring to FIG. 3, an intermediate image 90 is formed by a curved mirror 92, which is generally spherical according to the present invention. Image-bearing light from image source 94 is directed toward curved mirror 92 through an aperture stop location 96, which defines the angle of light from image source 94 available for forming intermediate image 90. Aperture stop location 96 is at the center of curvature C_(s) of curved mirror 92. With aperture stop location 96 centered at mirror center of curvature C_(s), the central rays that pass through C_(s) are reflected back toward this same point. As the traced light rays of FIG. 3 show, curved intermediate image 90 is typically formed between mirror center of curvature C_(s) and the mirror focal point f. Curved intermediate image 90 has an image center of curvature C_(i) that is in a different location from mirror center of curvature C_(s). As the distance D between image source 94 and curved mirror 92 increases, the respective centers of curvature C_(i) and C_(s) move toward each other, coinciding as distance D approaches infinity. At this idealized infinite distance D between image source 94 and curved mirror 92, curved intermediate image 90 would lie on focal point f and the center of curvature of the image C_(i) would coincide with the center of curvature C_(s) of curved mirror 24 (FIG. 1).

Using the overall arrangement of FIG. 3, image source 94 can be any of a number of image sources that emit light, such as a display LCD, a CRT, or an OLED or PLED device, for example. Two characteristics of image source 94 are particularly significant with this arrangement:

-   -   (i) The image formed on image source 94 is substantially flat.

There may be some slight curvature to this image, such as would be provided by a CRT; however, the arrangement of FIG. 3 works well when image source 94 is flat and shows how intermediate image 90 is formed having a curvature using the methods of the present invention. Since most image display devices form a flat image, there is, then, no need for modification to off-the-shelf display components with this arrangement.

-   -   (ii) Image source 94 can be several inches in diameter, and may         be well over one foot in diameter. In a preferred embodiment,         image source 94 is a large LCD display, such as a 17-inch         display, for example. This is unlike other apparatus for forming         a curved intermediate image, such as was shown with reference to         FIG. 2, for which a microdisplay, such as a liquid crystal on         silicon (LCOS) or DMD component, is used. Use of a larger         display device for image source 94 has particular advantages for         increasing both image resolution and brightness.

As described with reference to the Lagrange invariant in the background section above, brightness in an optical system is a product of the emissive area and the solid angle. By allowing image source 94 to have a large emissive area, the method of the present invention allows substantial brightness levels while, at the same time, allowing light angles to be relatively small. Small light angles are advantageous for maximizing image contrast and minimizing color shifting and other related image aberrations.

Separate image sources 94 are used for left and right eyes, respectively. Ideally, image source 94 for left image generation system 701 and image source 94 for right image generation system 70 r are well-matched for image size and color. CRT displays, however, may be at a disadvantage if used as image sources 94. Color differences between CRTs may degrade stereoscopic imaging performance. Additionally, as a result of display ageing, CRT image areas may vary dimensionally, effectively causing left/right pixel misalignment. In contrast to CRT displays, LCD displays offer dimensional stability with stable pixel locations, ease of alignment, and simpler mounting.

Ideal Ball Lens Operation

Referring to FIG. 4 a, there is shown the concentric arrangement and optical characteristics of ball lens assembly 30 for directing light from a curved image 50. A central spherical lens 46 is disposed between meniscus lenses 42 and 44. Spherical lens 46 and meniscus lenses 42 and 44 have indices of refraction and dispersion characteristics intended to minimize on-axis spherical and chromatic aberration, as is well known in the optical design arts. An aperture stop 48 defines a pupil 106 within ball lens assembly 30. Aperture stop 48 need not be a physical stop, but may alternately be implemented using optical effects such as total internal reflection. In terms of the optics path, aperture stop 48 serves to define an entrance pupil and an exit pupil for ball lens assembly 30.

In a preferred embodiment, meniscus lenses 42 and 44 are selected to reduce image aberration and to optimize image quality for the projected image projected. It must be noted that ball lens assembly 30 could comprise any number of arrangements of support lenses surrounding central spherical lens 46. Surfaces of these support lenses, however many are employed, would share a common center of curvature with C_(ball), the center of curvature of central spherical lens 46. Moreover, the refractive materials used for lens components of ball lens assembly 30 could be varied, within the scope of the present invention. For example, in addition to standard glass lenses, central spherical lens 46 could comprise a plastic, an oil or other liquid substance, or any other refractive material chosen for the requirements of the application. Meniscus lenses 42 and 44, and any other additional support lenses in ball lens assembly 30, could be made of glass, plastic, enclosed liquids, or other suitable refractive materials, all within the scope of the present invention. In its simplest embodiment, ball lens assembly 30 could simply comprise a single spherical lens 46, without additional supporting refractive components.

In ideal operation, curved image 50 shares the same center of curvature C_(ball) as ball lens assembly 30. When arranged in this fashion, light from curved image 50 is imaged with low levels of aberration, as is represented in the light rays of FIG. 4 a.

The inherent advantages of a ball lens can be exploited using a modified design, such as using a hemisphere combined with a folding mirror, as is shown in the cross-sectional ray diagram of FIG. 4 b. In FIG. 4 b, a hemispheric lens assembly 60 comprises at least a hemispheric central lens 66 and a reflective surface 62 along the meridional plane of the hemisphere. Optionally, one or more meniscus lenses 42 could also be part of hemispheric lens assembly 60. Reflective surface 62 may be formed over the full surface of the meridional plane or may be formed only along a portion of this surface. As shown in FIG. 4 b, hemispheric lens assembly 60 forms, from curved image 50 as its object, a curved image 64, folding the optical path at the same time. This arrangement can have advantages, for example, where space for optical components is at a premium.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “ball lens segment” comprises both fully spherical ball lens assembly 30, as shown in FIG. 4 a and hemispheric lens assembly 60 as shown in FIG. 4 b.

First Embodiment of Image Generation System

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a first embodiment of an image generation system 100 for forming a curved image 10 for projection according to the present invention, as disclosed in the commonly-assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/393,236. Curved image 10 serves the function of intermediate curved image 80 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described with reference to FIG. 3, image source 94 provides image-bearing light to curved mirror 92 through aperture stop location 96. Referring now to FIG. 5, a beamsplitter 102 is used to direct an intermediate image 90′ so that it is concentric to ball lens assembly 30, which could alternately be embodied as hemispheric lens assembly 60, as was shown in FIG. 4 b. Because the light is being directed by curved mirror 92 toward its center of curvature C_(s), rather than towards the center of curvature C_(ball) of ball lens assembly 30, some portion of the light does not enter the pupil 106 of ball lens assembly 30, thus causing vignetting. Overfilling pupil 106 of ball lens assembly 30 compensates for vignetting. Ball lens assembly 30 re-images intermediate curved image 90′ to form curved image 110. Beamsplitter 102 is disposed between the vertex V of curved mirror 92 and its center of curvature C_(s) as shown in FIG. 5.

It must be emphasized that curved mirror 92 serves as an image generation component that serves image generation system 100 for forming intermediate curved image 110, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. This is to be distinguished from ball lens imaging curved mirror 24 (used later in the optical path, as shown in FIG. 1 and in subsequent figures) which, in conjunction with beamsplitter 16, provides pupil imaging and forms the final virtual image observed by viewer 12. Similarly, beamsplitter 102 serves image generation system 100 for forming curved image 10 and is to be distinguished from beamsplitter 16 (shown in FIG. 1 and in subsequent figures) which cooperates with curved mirror 24 to provide pupil imaging and form the virtual image.

Second Embodiment of Image Generation System

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an improved embodiment of image generation system 100 in which a field lens 112 is positioned along the output axis where intermediate image 90 is formed. By positioning field lens 112 at this location, intermediate image 90 is not substantially changed; however, light from intermediate image 90 is directed toward center of curvature C_(ball) of ball lens assembly 30. Once again, it is significant to observe that ball lens assembly 30 shares the same center of curvature C_(ball) as intermediate image 90, but that this is not identical to the center of curvature C_(s) of curved mirror 92 or to the imaged center of curvature C_(s)′, towards which light from curved mirror 92 is directed. The function of field lens 112 is, then, to image C_(s) onto C_(ball) without substantially affecting the image quality of intermediate image 90. By doing this, field lens 112 essentially redirects light in order to fill pupil 106 of ball lens assembly 30 without vignetting.

Common to telescopic, microscopic, and similar “tube” optical systems, field lenses are widely employed in the optical arts, placed at the image location of a first lens, where the image formed at that image location becomes the object of a second lens. In this way, field lens 112 improves the overall brightness and field of view of the optical system. Background information on field lens use and theory can be found, for example, in Modern Optical Engineering, the Design of Optical Systems, by Warren J. Smith, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., pp. 212-213 and in other textbooks known in the optics field.

In one embodiment, surface S1 of field lens 112 is concentric with mirror center of curvature C_(s) and therefore does not deviate chief rays towards C_(ball). In such an embodiment, surface S2, not concentric with mirror center of curvature C_(s), operates to bend chief rays toward C_(ball). Alternately, surface S2 could be concentric with mirror center of curvature C_(s), surface S1 performing the operation of bending chief rays toward C_(ball). Embodiments with either surface S1 or S2 concentric with C_(s) or C_(ball) represent the most straightforward approaches to the design of field lens 112; other designs could have neither surface S1 nor S2 concentric with mirror center of curvature C_(s) or C_(ball), however, these designs could be more complex.

As was noted above with reference to FIG. 4 b, the use of hemispheric ball lens assembly 60 may have advantages for simplifying the optical path. Referring to FIG. 7 a, there is shown an alternative arrangement to that of FIG. 6, using hemispheric ball lens assembly 60 with field lens 112. In the arrangement of FIG. 7 a, field lens 112 again operates to image C_(s) onto C_(ball)., where C_(ball) is optically the center of curvature of hemispheric ball lens assembly 60.

Providing Advantages of Telecentric Light

Still referring to FIG. 7 a, an optional focusing optical element 98 is employed for providing improved, uniform brightness across the field. Disposed against the surface of image source 94, or very near this surface, focusing optical element 98 acts as a type of field lens for directing light emitted from image source 94. Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown, in schematic form, the function of focusing optical element 98, focusing the emitted light from image source 94 to its focal point f_(oe), coincident with mirror center of curvature C_(s), which is the entrance pupil of the image generation system. By doing this, focusing optical element 98 forces telecentricity for light emitted from image source 94, thereby optimizing the brightness and contrast of the image provided to the optical system through aperture stop location 96. As a result, curved image 110 has optimum brightness across the field. In one embodiment, focusing optical element 98 is a Fresnel lens. Among other devices that could be employed as focusing optical element 98 are holographic optical elements, diffraction optical elements, two-cylinder Fresnel lenses, or even a more conventional curved surface lens, for example.

Considerations for Beamsplitter 102

As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, beamsplitter 102 must accept incident light over a range of angles, so that where beamsplitter 102 is made of glass, rays at extreme sides of the field effectively encounter different thicknesses of glass. For this reason, it can be seen that there are advantages to providing beamsplitter 102 having minimal thickness of glass or plastic. Thus, beamsplitter 102 may be a thin glass or thin plastic type or a pellicle type beam splitting device.

Referring to FIG. 7 b, a wedge beamsplitter 104 can be used as an alternative. Wedge beamsplitter 104 has substrate thickness varied so that the cross-sectional profile of wedge beamsplitter 104 is wedge-shaped. The difference in substrate thickness of wedge beamsplitter 104 provides an alternative solution that helps to compensate for optical path length and angle differences across its surface. The use of wedge beamsplitter 104 within image generation system 100 has advantages, since its thicker substrate is mechanically less fragile than a pellicle or thin beamsplitter 102.

Embodiment for Stereoscopic Viewing

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a perspective view of a left and a right eye image generation system 100 i and 100 r within autostereoscopic display apparatus 10. The task of generating a curved image to be displayed to each eye uses the basic components of FIGS. 6, 7 a and 7 b. Left and right image sources 941 and 94r provide, through respective left and right aperture stop locations 961 and 96r and reflected from left and right beamsplitter 1021 and 102 r, light from images to their respective left and right curved mirrors 921 and 92 r. Respective left and right curved intermediate images, through respective left and right beamsplitter 102 l and 102 r, are formed near their respective left and right field lenses 112 l and 112 r, which redirect light to their respective left and right ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r. Left and right ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r are basically hemispheric in the configuration of FIG. 9, similar to hemispheric lens assembly 60 as shown in FIG. 4 b. Left and right ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r are provided with left and right reflective surfaces 132 l and 132 r and perform the dual function of folding the light path and projecting the intermediate images towards curved mirror 24. With the arrangement of FIG. 9, each image generation system 100 l and 1100 r can produce the appropriate image intended for left and right viewing pupils 14 l and 14 r, the viewing pupils typically range in size between 5 mm and 60 mm. The left and right viewing pupils 14 l and 14 r are separated by the interocular distance, which typically ranges between 55 mm and 75 mm. Curved images generated by left and a right eye image generation systems 100 l and 100 r form left and right intermediate curved images 110 l and 110 r for collimation using large curved mirror 24 to provide, by cooperation with beamsplitter 16, virtual images at left and right viewing pupils 14 l and 14 r, in the same manner as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,181. Referring back to FIG. 1, curved image 110 of FIG. 7 a or 7 b corresponds to intermediate curved image 80 in FIG. 1, for example.

Alternate Embodiment for Stereoscopic Viewing, Using Left and Right Mirrors

The embodiment of FIG. 9 showed the use of a single curved mirror 24 with beamsplitter 16 for forming both left and right virtual images. In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 16, there is shown how autostereoscopic display apparatus 10, using the same left and a right eye image generation systems 100 l and 100 r described with respect to FIG. 9, can employ separate left and a right curved mirrors, 24 l and 24 r, one for each corresponding viewing pupil 14 l and 14 r. The alternate arrangement of FIG. 16 is advantaged over the arrangement of FIG. 9 that uses a single curved mirror 24 because each left and right ball lens segment 130 l and 130 r can be positioned on-axis with respect to its corresponding curved mirror 24 l, 24 r. In the arrangement of FIG. 9, on the other hand, left and night ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r are offset slightly to either side of the optical axis of single curved mirror 24. This causes a slight keystoning aberration in each optical path. Disadvantageously, keystoning effects for left and right images are in opposite directions, degrading the quality of the image at extreme edges of the field. To some extent, this effect can be corrected or mitigated electronically, by pre-distorting the image data.

Designs using left and right curved mirrors 24 l and 24 r, such as shown in FIG. 16 allow on-axis imaging, minimizing or eliminating keystoning effects. However, designs using multiple mirrors can be disadvantaged due to mechanical placement constraints; it is difficult to arrange both left and right curved mirrors 24 l and 24 r and beamsplitter 16 without some obstruction and consequent reduction of field width. Another design consideration relates to the relative positioning of left and right ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r. Using dual curved mirrors 24 l and 24 r, positioning constraints-for both left and right ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r can be relaxed somewhat, easing space requirements for imaging support components and allowing the size of ball lens segment 130 components to be relatively larger, providing a larger viewing pupil 14. By contrast, the embodiment of FIG. 9 requires that ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r be positioned closely together, but allows a more compact design at the same time.

The same general principles used for forming a virtual image with the prior art configuration of FIG. 1 and the configuration of FIG. 9 also apply to the dual mirror configuration of FIG. 16, with necessary modifications for separate left and right image paths, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the imaging arts. For example, left and right intermediate curved images 110 l and 110 r are formed at focal surfaces of left and right curved mirrors respectively in order to provide virtual imaging.

Alternate Embodiment Using Broad Range of Image Generation Systems 100

While ball lens segments 130 l and 130 r shown in FIGS. 9 and 16 provide corresponding intermediate left and right curved images 110 l and 110 r having optimal curvature, a broader range of image-forming optical systems could be used for this purpose. For example, lower cost conventional projection optics could be deployed to form intermediate left and right curved images 110 l and 110 r having reasonably good curvature, with some compromises in imaging performance. Referring to FIG. 17, for example, there is shown an arrangement of components using more conventional projection optics for left and right image generation systems 100 l and 100 r.

The ideal spatial relationships for pupil placement provided by left and right image generation systems 100 l and 100 r, left and right curved mirrors 24 l and 24 r, and beamsplitter 16, as represented in FIG. 17, include the following:

-   -   (i) the center, of curvature C_(24l) of left curved mirror 24 l         is optically coincident with the exit pupil of left image         generation system 100 l;     -   (ii) the center of curvature C_(24r) of right curved mirror 24 r         is optically coincident with the exit pupil of right image         generation system 100 r;     -   (iii) the center of curvature C_(24l) of left curved mirror 24 l         and center of curvature C_(24r) of right curved mirror 24 r are         separated by the ocular distance between left and right viewer         pupils 14 l and 14 r;     -   (iv) left viewer pupil 14 _(l) is optically at the center of         curvature C_(24l) of left curved mirror 24 l;     -   (v) right viewer pupil 14 r is optically at the center of         curvature C_(24r) of right curved mirror 24 r;     -   (vi) left curved image 110 l is optically centered at left         viewing pupil 14 l and at the focal surface of left curved         mirror 24 l; and     -   (vii) right curved image 110 r is optically centered at right         viewing pupil 14 r and at the focal surface of right curved         mirror 24 r.

With this spatial arrangement of optical components, a real image of the exit pupil of left image generation system 100 l and a virtual image of left curved image 110 l are formed at left viewing pupil 14 l. Correspondingly, a real image of the exit pupil of right image generation system 100 r and a virtual image of right curved image 110 r are formed at right viewing pupil 14 r.

It must be emphasized that the relationships listed in (i)-(vii) above are ideal spatial relationships; optimal pupil imaging is obtained when the requirements of (i)-(vii) are satisfied. In practice, some amount of tolerance error is acceptable, provided that viewing pupils 14 l and 14 r are formed at suitable positions for the observer.

Correcting for Spherical Aberration

As was described with reference to FIG. 4 a, ball lens assembly 30 unavoidably exhibits some amount of aberration, which is largely corrected using central lens 46 in combination with meniscus lenses 42 and 44. Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown, for ball lens assembly 30 of a preferred embodiment, tangential and sagittal aberration curves 150 for a 20 mm pupil, showing a significant amount of correction.

However, as a result of residual spherical aberration due to higher order aberrations, the size of viewing pupils 14 l, 14 r is still somewhat limited. Due to this residual aberration, movement of the eyes of observer 12 within viewing pupils 14 l, 14 r can cause some amount of image “swim”.

Spherical aberration is a recognized problem in optical systems that employ a concave mirror, such as astronomical telescopes for example. To compensate for this type of aberration, the Schmidt optical system, as described in Modern Optical Engineering, the Design of Optical Systems, by Warren J. Smith (cited above), pp. 393-394, employs an aspheric corrector plate. In the Schmidt system, a thin, aspheric corrector plate is positioned at the center of curvature of the curved mirror.

Comparing aberration curves 150 in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the improvement using the Schmidt solution can be readily seen, for similar imaging conditions and a 32 mm pupil. FIG. 11 corresponds to the optical arrangement of FIG. 6, where there is no correction for spherical aberration due to residual higher order aberrations. FIG. 12 corresponds to the optical arrangement of FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 shows a'side view of a simplified optical path for image generation system 100 using an aspheric corrector element 140 disposed near the center of curvature of curved mirror 92. Light from image source 94 is directed through aspheric corrector element 140, which is optically conjugate to the center of curvature of curved mirror 92. The curved intermediate image formed by curved mirror 92 lies near field lens 112, which directs the light to a ball lens segment 130. Ball lens segment 130 creates curved image 110 for curved mirror 24 (not shown in FIG. 13).

Placing aspheric corrector element 140 near the center of curvature of curved mirror 92 effectively images aspheric corrector element 140 into the pupil of ball lens segment 130; that is, corrector element 104 and the pupil of ball lens segment 130 are optically conjugate. This allows aspheric corrector element 140 to provide effective correction across the full field of view. As a result, pupil size can be increased to 50 mm, with minimal aberration, as shown in aberration curve 150 of FIG. 14. By way of example, FIG. 15 shows the sag that is required of the aspheric surface for a corrector plate as aspheric corrector element 140 in a preferred embodiment.

In an alternate embodiment, aspheric corrector element 140 could be a compound lens that corrects chromatic as well as spherical aberration. Such an arrangement would require more complexity than the design of a single-component aspheric corrector element 140, but would simplify the design requirements of ball lens segment 130. For example, where a compound lens is used for aspheric corrector element 140, it may be possible to use only a single element as ball lens segment 130.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention as described above, and as noted in the appended claims, by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, field lens 112 can be more complex than is shown here, having different curvature, composition, or coatings. Image source 94, a transmissive LCD device in one embodiment, can be any of a number of types of image source, including film, CRT, LCD, and digital imaging devices: Image source 94 could be an emissive array, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) array, for example. In order to take advantage of the benefits of monocentric imaging, curved mirror 92 will be substantially spherical in most embodiments; however, some slight shape modifications might be used, with the corresponding changes to supporting optics and to optional aspheric corrector element 140. Either ball lens assembly 30 or hemispheric lens assembly 60 could serve as the ball lens segment for either or both left and right image generation systems. Separate left and right curved mirrors 24 could be used to improve the image quality of each viewing pupil 14 l, 14 r, reducing undesirable “keystoning” effects that can result from off off-axis positioning of left and right ball lens segments 130 l, 130 r. Curved mirror 24 could be fabricated as a highly reflective surface using a number of different materials.

Thus, what is provided is an apparatus and method for autostereoscopic image display having improved brightness, pupil size, and resolution.

Parts List

-   10 autostereoscopic display apparatus -   12 viewer -   14 viewing pupil -   14 l eft viewing pupil -   14 r right viewing pupil -   16 beamsplitter -   22 front focal surface -   24 curved mirror -   24 l curved mirror, left -   24 r curved mirror, right -   30 ball lens assembly -   30 l ball lens assembly, left -   30 r ball lens assembly, right -   32 diffusing element -   40 diffusive surface -   42 meniscus lens -   44 meniscus lens -   46 central spherical lens -   48 aperture stop -   50 curved image -   54 relay lens -   60 hemispheric lens assembly -   62 reflective surface -   64 curved image -   66 hemispheric central lens -   70 image generation system -   70 l left image generation system -   70 r right image generation system -   74 image generator -   76 curved intermediate image -   80 intermediate curved image -   82 stereoscopic projection system -   90 intermediate image -   90′ intermediate image -   92 curved mirror -   92 l left curved mirror -   92 r right curved mirror -   94 image source -   94 l left image source -   94 r right image source -   96 aperture stop location -   96 l left aperture stop location -   96 r right aperture stop location -   98 focusing optical element -   100 image generation system -   100 l left image generation system -   100 r right image generation system -   102 beamsplitter -   102 l left beamsplitter -   102 r right beamsplitter -   104 wedge beamsplitter -   106 ball lens pupil -   110 curved image -   110 l left curved image -   110 r right curved image -   112 field lens -   112 l left field lens -   112 r right field lens -   130 ball lens segment -   130 l left ball lens segment -   130 r right ball lens segment -   132 l left reflective surface -   132 r right reflective surface -   140 aspheric corrector element -   150 aberration curve 

1. An autostereoscopic optical apparatus for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising: (a) a left pupil imaging system for forming the left image, comprising: (i) a left curved mirror having a left mirror center of curvature and a left focal surface; (ii) a left image generation system for protecting a left curved image toward the left focal surface; wherein the exit pupil of the left image generation system and the left curved image center of curvature are substantially coincident and lie substantially at the left mirror center of curvature; (b) a right pupil imaging system for forming the right image, comprising: (i) a right curved mirror having a right mirror center of curvature and a right focal surface; (ii) a right image generation system for projecting a right curved image toward the right focal surface, wherein the exit pupil of the right image generation system and the right curved image center of curvature are substantially coincident and lie substantially at the right mirror center of curvature; and (c) a beamsplitter disposed to fold both left and right image paths to form: (i) at the left viewing pupil, a real image of the left image generation system pupil and a virtual image of the left curved image; (ii) at the right viewing pupil, a real image of the right image generation system pupil and a virtual image of the right curved image; wherein said left image generation system comprises an image source selected from a group consisting of a CRT, an emissive array, an LCD display, an OLED; and further comprising a focusing optical element adjacent to said image source for directing light toward said left image generation system entrance pupil.
 2. An autostereoscopic optical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said focusing optical element is taken from the group consisting of a Fresnel lens, a holographic optical element, a diffraction optical element, and a lens.
 3. An autostereoscopic optical apparatus for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising: (a) a left pupil imaging system for forming the left image, comprising: (i) a left curved mirror having a left mirror center of curvature and a left focal surface; (ii) a left image generation system for projecting a left curved image toward the left focal surface; wherein the exit pupil of the left image generation system and the left curved image center of curvature are substantially coincident and lie substantially at the left mirror center of curvature; (b) a right pupil imaging system for forming the right image, comprising: (i) a right curved mirror having a right mirror center of curvature and a right focal surface; (ii) a right image generation system for projecting a right curved image toward the right focal surface, wherein the exit pupil of the right image generation system and the right curved image center of curvature are substantially coincident and lie substantially at the right mirror center of curvature; and (c) a beamsplitter disposed to fold both left and right image paths to form: (i) at the left viewing pupil, a real image of the left image generation system pupil and a virtual image of the left curved image; (ii) at the right viewing pupil, a real image of the right image generation system pupil and a virtual image of the right curved image; and wherein said viewing pupils range in size between 5 mm and 60 mm.
 4. An autostereoscopic optical apparatus for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprising a left image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil, the apparatus comprising: (a) a left pupil imaging system for forming the left image, comprising: (i) a left curved mirror having a left mirror center of curvature and a left focal surface; (ii) a left image generation system for protecting a left curved image toward the left focal surface; wherein the exit pupil of the left image generation system and the left curved image center of curvature are substantially coincident and lie substantially at the left mirror center of curvature; (b) a right pupil imaging system for forming the right image, comprising: (i) a right curved mirror having a right mirror center of curvature and a right focal surface; (ii) a right image generation system for projecting a right curved image toward the right focal surface, wherein the exit pupil of the right image generation system and the right curved image center of curvature are substantially coincident and lie substantially at the right mirror center of curvature; and (c) a beamsplitter disposed to fold both left and right image paths to form: (i) at the left viewing pupil, a real image of the left image generation system pupil and a virtual image of the left curved image; (ii) at the right viewing pupil, a real image of the right image generation system pupil and a virtual image of the right curved image; and wherein said viewing pupils are separated by an interocular distance ranging between 55 mm and 75 mm. 